Differentation between mobile and fixed mobile radio terminals

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal, in which execution of at least one step of the method is controlled according to a device parameter which is assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and which has exactly one of two possible device parameter values which indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/145,986, filed Jul. 3, 2013, now issued on Jan. 5, 2016 as U.S. Pat.No. 9,232,421, which is a U.S. national stage application filed under 35U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2010/066622, filedNov. 2, 2010, which application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/258,957, filed Nov. 6, 2009, and EP Application No.09175285.7, filed Nov. 6, 2009; each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety to the maximum extent allowable by law.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mobile radio communication terminaland a method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal. It alsorelates to a base station and an operating method for a base station andto a mobile radio communications infrastructure and an operating methodfor a mobile radio communications infrastructure.

Description of the Related Art

Selection of a suitable mobile network cell by a mobile radiocommunication terminal according to the received signal strength isknown from WO 00/13377. When a suitable cell has been found, the mobileradio communication terminal logs into the assigned access network viathe respective cell. A base station used for this purpose is then usedby the mobile radio communication terminal as the currentlyserving/selected base station. The mobile radio communication terminalregularly checks, also after logging in, whether there is a mobilenetwork cell providing better reception. When this is the case, thebetter cell is selected.

Measurements for such cell reselection by the terminal are carried outin all states of the mobile radio communication terminal in which theuser equipment can perform a cell change autonomously. In addition to aninactive state referred to as “IDLE,” these states may include otherstates known in UMTS or other mobile communications technologies, suchas Cell PCH or URA-PCH. This inactive state is periodically interruptedin order to check whether signals directed at the mobile radiocommunication terminal are received from the external base station. Suchsignals are typically paging signals that are transmitted on a specialsignaling channel. The paging signals are transmitted at specific times.The interval between successive transmissions of paging signals definesa “discontinuous reception period,” or “DRX period” for short. WO00/13377 describes that the DRX cycle duration may differ in length, andproposes that the number of measurements for cell selection be chosenaccording to the respective DRX cycle duration.

Within a cell, however, the cycle duration of the DRX cycle is identicalfor all mobile radio communication terminals that are in a stateallowing autonomous cell selection. This applies for bothsecond-generation radio communication standards (GSM) and for thirdgeneration radio communication standards (UMTS). The DRX cycle durationis typically made dependent on the characteristic features of a specificmobile network cell, for example of an environment in which that cell islocated. For example, a shorter DRX cycle duration is chosen in an urbanenvironment so that mobile radio communication terminals that would haveto switch to a different cell within a short time, for example whenmoving into a subway station, are able to make that change withoutnoticeable delays. A longer DRX cycle is prescribed, in contrast, bymobile network cells in environments that allow longer parallelreception of the serving cell and a neighboring cell, and which cantherefore provide a longer time for changing cells without delays. Morespecifically, these may be mobile network cells of greater geographicalexpanse, in which a mobile radio communication terminal typically spendsa longer time.

One disadvantage is that a DRX cycle duration which may be unreasonablyshort or unreasonably long is assigned in this way to mobile radiocommunication terminals independently of the behavior of their users andindependently of the purpose for which it is being used. For example, avending machine that is connected via a radio modem to a serviceheadquarters and which is installed in an urban environment must operatewith a very short DRX cycle duration. This necessitates frequentactivation of the radio modem from an inactive state, and also requiresmeasurement of neighboring cells at respective intervals that areunreasonably short for the radio modem in this application.

The shorter the DRX cycle duration, the higher is the average powerconsumption of a mobile radio communication terminal, since thedurations of the activity and inactivity periods of a mobile radiocommunication terminal are defined on the basis of the DRX cycleduration.

WO 2007/080399 A1 describes mobile radio communication terminals thatare installed in a vending machine or in a vehicle or in an alarmsystem. In the core network, a “terminal type identifier” TTID is setfor such stationary terminals to “FIXED” and communicated to the accessnetwork. According to the message sequence shown in FIGS. 2A/2B, thisTTID parameter is sent in an “insert subscriber data” message 122 inresponse to a location update message by HRR/HSS to the assigned servingGPRS support node SGSN. The SGSN then instructs the mobile radiocommunication terminal with a GMM attach accept message 128 not toperform any more periodic location updates.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is therefore to specify a mobileradio communication terminal, a method of operating a mobile radiocommunication terminal, a base station and an operating method for abase station, a mobile radio communications infrastructure and anoperating method for a mobile radio communications infrastructure whichpermit control behavior that is adapted to the actual use of the mobileradio communication terminal.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method ofoperating a mobile radio communication terminal is specified in whichexecution of at least one step of the method is controlled according toa device parameter which is assigned to the mobile radio communicationterminal and which has exactly one of two possible device parametervalues which indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

The operating method according to the invention allows operation of amobile radio communication terminal to be controlled according towhether or not the mobile radio communication terminal is a permanentlystationary device, a fact that is important for many applicationcontexts.

The operating method of the first aspect of the invention is based onthe realization that mobile radio communication is also used to anincreasing extent by permanently stationary terminals for which mobilecommunication networks, as the name suggests, were not designed.However, due to existing signaling protocols, these permanentlystationary mobile radio communication terminals must execute the sameprocedures as those executed by moving mobile radio communicationterminals in order to maintain contact with the mobile communicationsnetwork while moving. For example, prior art methods for supportingmobility in semi-idle states and based on cell reselection controlled bythe mobile radio communication terminal require regular measurementsbeing carried out, the frequency of which depends on cell parameterssuch as the DRX cycle, regardless of whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not. However, suchprocedures are often unnecessary for permanently stationary mobile radiocommunication terminals, or could be carried out in other ways thatrequire less energy. The known prior art does not offer any method fortaking such differences between permanently stationary andnon-permanently stationary mobile radio communication terminals intoconsideration.

In embodiments of the operating method according to the invention, it ispossible not only to save energy for operating the mobile radiocommunication terminal, but also to reduce the load on the mobile radiocommunications infrastructure.

It should be noted that the expressions used for network nodes in thepresent description and in the claims are not to be understood aslimiting the applicability of the invention to a specific radiocommunication standard. The expression “base station,” for example, isused in a way that covers embodiments according to a 2G standard formobile communications, such as GSM, as well as a 3G standard for mobilecommunications, such as UMTS, or according to any other or futurestandard. Nor is the applicability of the invention limited to mobileradio communication terminals in wide area mobile radio communicationnetworks, such as those supported by GSM and UMTS. It may also beapplied equally well in local mobile communication networks such aspicocells, WLAN, WiFi and the like.

Embodiments of the inventive operating method shall now be described.The additional features of the embodiments described here may becombined with each other to form further embodiments, unless therespective embodiments are explicitly described as alternative to eachother.

In the operating method according to the invention, the device parameterassigned or to be assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal ispreferably detected or determined as “permanently stationary” or “notpermanently stationary” in an autonomous manner, that is to say, solelyby the mobile radio communication terminal itself.

Autonomous definition of the device parameter is a particularlybeneficial characteristic, since it can be incorporated into existingnetworks and structures without modifications having to be made, sinceall the decisions in this regard are made internally by the mobile radiocommunication terminal. In other words, there is no signaling by anexternal device, such as a base station of a wireless network, to themobile radio communication terminal, in order to assign the mobile radiocommunication terminal its device parameter value. The device parametervalue may be determined autonomously by the mobile radio communicationterminal, for example by fetching the device parameter value as onevalue (of two possible values) stored in an internal memory of theterminal, or by reading a hardware setting (similar to a jumper). It isalso possible for a logical linkage between “permanently stationary” andthe execution of a specific action to be stored. That action may be onewhich takes place in the mobile radio communication terminal itself.That does not necessarily have to be the case, however. If the mobileradio communication terminal is realized, for example, by a mobilecommunications module which performs functions interactively with anexternally executed application program (or “application” for short)which communicates with the module, said action may be performed orinitiated by the mobile communications module itself, or externally andaccordingly by the application external to the module.

In other embodiments, the operating method includes performing one ormore measurements of a variable whose values indicate individually orcollectively whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary, and determinationthe device parameter value by the mobile radio communication terminalaccording to the detected value or detected values of the variable. Thelatter involves the mobile radio communication terminal detecting thevalue of the device parameter, during operation of the mobile radiocommunication terminal, by analyzing measurements that the mobile radiocommunication terminal performs autonomously and then stores internally.Depending on the type of mobile radio communication terminal, this mayinvolve a direct geographical determination by means of a positioningmethod (GPS), or measuring radio signals from different stations anddetermining the resultant position or time-dependent change in themeasured signals as such.

Although, in different embodiments described below, the mobile radiocommunication terminal communicates to the network the device parameterthat it itself has previously and autonomously detected, this is not tobe understood as original detection or determination of the deviceparameter by the network.

The distinction between “permanently” and “not permanently” relates indifferent variants of the invention to differing time periods.

In one embodiment, “permanently stationary” shall be understood to meanthat the respective mobile radio communication terminal is stationary atleast for the duration of the login to the current mobile network cell.A desired change in the parameter value is associated in this embodimentwith a logout and new login to the mobile network cell, or with a newlogin to a different mobile network cell. It can thus be assumed in anycase that, when signaling is carried out between the mobile radiocommunication terminal and the respective base station for the durationof reciprocal assignment to each other, the mobile radio communicationterminal is to be treated after logging in as permanently stationary ornot permanently stationary and that it applies the respective operatingmethod itself. Dynamic alteration of the device parameter value by themobile radio communication terminal while assigned to a specific mobilenetwork cell is not envisaged in this embodiment.

One variant, in contrast, provides for dynamic variability of the deviceparameter value by the mobile radio communication terminal. In thisvariant, classification as permanently stationary/not permanentlystationary may also vary even during assignment to a specific basestation, without a new login or a similarly complicated signalingprocess being required. For example, a mobile radio communicationterminal located in a vehicle, e.g., in the form of an installed module,may be allowed to operate as permanently stationary only when thevehicle is switched off.

Classification as permanently stationary when the engine is switched offmay be associated with hysteresis, such that only after a certain timehas elapsed is the state defined as permanently stationary until theengine is switched on again. The defined state can then be communicatedby means of signaling to components in the network.

In another variant, the device parameter is a value that is fixedlyassigned during operation and which cannot be changed during executionof a method of operating the mobile radio communication terminal. If achange in the device parameter value is nevertheless to be allowed, thedevice parameter value may be changed in this variant, for example bymanual adjustment of the mobile radio communication terminal.

The following description of further embodiments is organized into threegroups of embodiments relating to different application contexts for theinventive method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal. Theoperating method may cover the different application contexts incombination, which means that it is possible to combine embodiments fromthe different application contexts of the inventive operating method asdescribed below. However, it is also possible to use the operatingmethod in just one or two application contexts.

In embodiments relating to a first application context, the operatingmethod includes periodically interrupting an inactive state of themobile radio communication terminal in order to perform a respectivecheck as to whether signals directed at the mobile radio communicationterminal are being received from an external base station, this periodicchecking being carried out with a cycle duration which is individuallyassigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and which depends onthe device parameter value which indicates whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary.

With this method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal, thecycle duration for checking reception of signals in the inactive statecan be successfully tailored to the actual use of the mobile radiocommunication terminal. In the case of mobile radio communicationterminals that can make use of a long cycle duration, the powerconsumption in the inactive state can thus be significantly reduced.This is advantageous not only in battery-powered mobile radiocommunication terminals, in which the operating time between batteryrecharges can be increased by utilizing the operating method accordingto the invention. Reduced power consumption also reduces the costs of afixedly installed mobile communications module, by lowering itsoperating costs.

The cycle duration assigned to the mobile radio communication terminalpreferably has a first (higher) cycle duration value when the deviceparameter value assigned to the mobile radio communication terminalindicates that the mobile radio communication terminal is permanentlystationary. In contrast thereto, it is advantageous to assign arelatively smaller second cycle duration value to mobile radiocommunication terminals that are not permanently stationary. The shortercycle duration value is typically the default setting provided for arespective mobile network cell. However, it is not imperative to limitthe possible cycle duration values for checking reception of signalsfrom the base station to exactly two values. More than two values mayalso be provided for selection, the selection being made, for example,by the assigned base station and signaled to the mobile radiocommunication terminal.

It is advantageous, for example, to assign individual mobile radiocommunication terminals to groups having different cycle durations. Thedifferent cycle durations in this case are preferably multiples of abasic cycle duration. In one advantageously simplified variant, anextended cycle duration for permanently stationary terminals lasts twiceas long as the basic cycle duration, thus minimizing any signaling thatmay be necessary.

In one variant, several groups are provided with the same assigned cycleduration. However, these groups have cycles with the same cycle durationbut different relative starting times. In one example, the intervalbetween the starting times is the same length as a basic cycle duration.

In another embodiment, the cycle duration is additionally dependent onat least one current value of a state parameter which indicates thecurrent state of the mobile radio communication terminal.

This may be a current battery status of the mobile radio communicationterminal, for example. Depending on the device parameter value, it ispossible to change the assigned cycle duration to higher or lowervalues, with the state parameter being taken into consideration thereby.In this way, the cycle duration may adopt more than two cycle durationvalues according to the combination of device parameter value and thecurrent state parameter value.

In another example of such an embodiment, the cycle duration is varieddynamically within a defined frame. In this variant, the cycle durationmay thus vary even during assignment to a specific base station, withouta new login or a similarly complicated signaling process being required.For example, a mobile radio communication terminal located in a vehicle,e.g., in the form of an installed module, may be allowed to operate witha different cycle duration when the vehicle is switched off to when thevehicle is switched on.

In such embodiments that use the state parameter, the device parameterand the at least one state parameter may be subjected to prioritizationof such a kind that the parameter whose detected current value isassigned a longer cycle duration is weighted more heavily relative toother parameters when the cycle duration is being assigned.

Different embodiments for detecting the device-specific cycle durationare conceivable. In one embodiment of the operating method according tothe invention, the mobile radio communication terminal transmits thedevice parameter value and any other current state parameter values whenor after it logs into the external base station. In a first variant, thecycle duration may be assigned by the external base station to themobile radio communication terminal. Alternatively, in a second variant,the mobile radio communication terminal may detect the cycle durationvalue internally. Depending on the network setup, the internallydetected cycle duration may then be communicated to the base station, orthe base station detects the cycle duration itself on the basis of theparameter values transmitted to it.

In embodiments relating to a second application context, the operatingmethod includes regularly repeated transmission of a respective currentchannel quality indicator from the mobile radio communication terminalto an external base station, wherein the channel quality indicator is acriterion for a signal-to-noise ratio or for asignal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio of a channel on which the mobileradio communication terminal receives radio signals directed at themobile radio communication terminal from the external base station. Thetransmissions are performed with a time interval which is individuallyassigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and which depends onthe device parameter value which indicates whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary.

The second application context relates to an improvement to knownmethods for downlink data transmission, i.e., in the direction from abase station to a mobile radio communication terminal. In this case, themobile radio communication terminal transmits a channel qualityindicator to the base station at defined time intervals. The basestation decides on the basis of this information and the number ofmobile radio communication terminals currently connected to the basestation which mobile radio communication terminal is assigned whichchannel for downlink data transmission. Data transmission is performedat predefined intervals referred to as

TTI (transmission time interval). However, the data throughput does notincrease proportionally to the number of channels being used, becauseinterference among the channels increases the more channels are added.The channel quality may therefore deteriorate.

By means of the channel quality indicator, the base station referred toas “node B^(n) in the UMTS standard is able to control HSDPA datatransmission to a large number of mobile radio communication terminals.The TTI time intervals for a specific mobile radio communicationterminal is predefined on the basis of channel quality indicator valuestransmitted by that mobile radio communication terminal.

In the prior art, permanently stationary mobile radio communicationterminals such as mobile communications modules in stationary vendingmachines also adhere to this procedure. However, the transmitted valuesof the channel quality indicator for stationary devices do not change atsuch a speed that necessitates short time intervals between thetransmissions of the channel quality indicator. Short time intervalsbetween such transmissions cause the mobile radio communication terminalto need an unnecessarily high amount of energy, because the mobile radiocommunication terminal must be switched in each case from an idle stateinto the operating state in order to be able to transmit the channelquality indicator. An unnecessary increase in interference also occurs,since the amount of new information in the quickly successive channelquality indicators is minimal due to little change in the averagechannel quality.

What is achieved by the embodiments of the present second applicationcontext, in contrast, is that the time intervals between successivetransmissions of a channel quality indicator can be adjusted accordingto whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanentlystationary or not permanently stationary. This reduces the amount ofuplink signaling and hence the uplink interference and the individualpower consumption of the mobile radio communication terminal.

On the network side, this also allows a high value for the time intervalbetween successive transmissions of the channel quality indicator. Themaximum possible value may be permanently specified, for example.

Alternatively, the mobile radio communication terminal may internallydetect and use a time interval between successive transmissions. Thisavoids the control signaling that is otherwise needed between the mobileradio communication terminal and the base station and helps in this wayto reduce the energy required by the operating method still further.

In one particularly advantageous variant, the time interval betweensuccessive transmissions of the channel quality indicator are predefinedby the base station. It may be fixed or variable in alternativeembodiments. If it is variable, then the time interval can preferablyvary according to another parameter, for example a device feature of themobile radio communication terminal, such as a configuration parameter.In a further alternative, the mobile radio communication terminal onlytransmits the channel quality indicator to the base station if thechannel quality changes more than a predefined amount. This ensures thatthe channel quality indicator is transmitted only when it leaves thispredefined tolerance range about a predefined value of the channelquality indicator, thus necessitating only a small number oftransmissions of the indicator.

In embodiments relating to a third application context, the operatingmethod according to the invention comprises the following steps:

-   -   detecting the device parameter value indicating whether the        mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or        not permanently stationary;    -   changing from an active state to an inactive state;    -   periodically executing a cell selection or cell reselection        process of the mobile radio communication device, wherein one of        a plurality of receivable base stations is selected for        communication with the mobile radio communication device after        the mobile radio communication device has transitioned to an        active state, but only if the device parameter value indicates        that the mobile radio communication device is not permanently        stationary, and if the mobile radio communication device is in        the inactive state;    -   not executing the cell selection or cell reselection process        while the mobile radio communication terminal is in the inactive        state, but only if the device parameter value indicates that the        mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary,        and if the mobile radio communication terminal is in the        inactive state.

The embodiments of the present application context relate to methods inwhich mobile radio communication terminals periodically interrupt aninactive state (such as the known idle state) in order to execute a cellselection or cell reselection process. These embodiments of theoperating method according to the invention permit differentiationbetween permanently stationary and not permanently stationary mobileradio communication terminals. Only the latter perform the cellselection or cell reselection process periodically. Permanentlystationary mobile radio communication terminals desist from executingthis process and do not interrupt the inactive state for that purpose.This permits a reduction in the energy required to carry out theoperating method, which leads to very energy-saving operation,particularly in combination with the operating method according to thepreviously described application contexts.

In one embodiment, the cell selection or cell reselection process issuppressed as long as the current cell in which the mobile radiocommunication terminal is in the inactive state provides sufficientlygood transmission quality to ensure that communication between the basestation and the mobile radio communication terminal can be initiated.

In one embodiment that generates advantages in all three of theapplication contexts described above, the mobile radio communicationterminal transmits the device parameter value to the external basestation when or after it logs into the external base station. Dependingon the specific embodiment, other current state parameter values may betransmitted, if necessary. This enables the base station to detect andassign to the mobile radio communication terminal the device parametervalue and, where relevant, the specifications for operating parameterscorresponding to the additional state parameter value.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a mobile radiocommunication terminal is provided with a terminal control unit. Theterminal control unit is configured to control execution of at least oneoperating step during operation of the mobile radio communicationterminal according to a device parameter which is assigned to the mobileradio communication terminal and which has exactly one of two possibledevice parameter values which indicate whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary.

The mobile radio communication terminal according to the second aspectof the invention shares the advantages of the method of operating amobile radio communication terminal, as described above. The mobileradio communication terminal may be embodied as an end-user device, suchas a mobile telephone, a mobile communications card for use in acommercially available computer or laptop, or the like. Alternatively,the mobile radio communication terminal is a module for installation inmachines, such as vending machines, measuring stations, or the like.

Some embodiments of the mobile radio communication terminal according tothe second aspect of the invention shall now be described. Theadditional features of the mobile radio communication terminal may alsobe combined with each other to form other embodiments, provided suchcombinations are not explicitly excluded.

A mobile radio communication terminal is understood in the widest senseto be any user terminal which is suitable for wireless datatransmission. In different embodiments, this may be a mobilecommunications module that, as part of a permanently stationary or notpermanently stationary device, controls mobile communications-based dataor speech communication with external network devices, such as a basestation or another mobile radio communication terminal. Both the mobilecommunications module and the aforementioned device form mobile radiocommunication terminals within the meaning of the present invention.Examples for non-stationary devices containing a mobile communicationsmodule are mobile telephones, mobile telephones integrated in machinesor vehicles, portable computers such as PDAs or laptops, or mobile salesdevices such as devices for train personnel for retrieving, cashlesspayment and printing of train tickets.

In embodiments, the mobile radio communication terminal is configured toexecute an operating method according to one or more embodiments of thefirst aspect of the invention. The additional features of embodimentsfor different application contexts may be implemented singly or incombination with one another.

The terminal control unit is preferably configured to detect ordetermine in an autonomous manner the device parameter assigned or to beassigned to the mobile radio communication terminal as “permanentlystationary” or “not permanently stationary,” that is to say, withoutcommunication on the part of the mobile radio communication terminalwith devices external thereto, such as a base station of a wirelessnetwork.

In one embodiment of the first application context, the mobile radiocommunication terminal is equipped with a receiver unit, and

-   -   the terminal control unit is configured to switch the receiver        unit periodically with a predetermined cycle duration from an        inactive operating state of the mobile radio communication        terminal to an active operating state, i.e., to activate it;    -   the receiver unit is configured to check, when in the active        operating state, whether signals directed at the mobile radio        communication terminal are being received, and    -   the terminal control unit is configured, when in the inactive        operating state, to activate the receiver unit with a cycle        duration which is individually assigned to the mobile radio        communication terminal and which depends on the device parameter        value which indicates whether the mobile radio communication        terminal is permanently stationary or not permanently        stationary.

In this terminal, the terminal control unit is configured, when in theinactive operating state, to activate the receiver unit with a cycleduration which is dependent on the device parameter value, of the mobileradio communication terminal, which indicates whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary. The advantages of this mobile radio communication terminalcorrespond to those of the operating method in the first applicationcontext, as described above.

In a further embodiment, the control unit is configured to activate thereceiver unit in the inactive state with a first cycle duration valuewhen the parameter value assigned to the mobile radio communicationterminal device indicates that the mobile radio communication terminalis permanently stationary, and otherwise to activate with a cycleduration value that is smaller in comparison with the first cycleduration value.

In another embodiment, the control unit is configured to activate thereceiver unit with a cycle duration value that is additionally dependenton at least one current value of a state parameter of the mobile radiocommunication terminal which indicates a current state of the mobileradio communication terminal.

Yet another embodiment of the mobile radio communication terminaladditionally includes a transmitter unit which is connected to thecontrol unit. The control unit is additionally configured to make thetransmitter unit transmit the device parameter value and, whererelevant, the other current state parameters to the external basestation when or after the mobile communications device logs into anexternal base station.

In alternative embodiments, the control unit is configured to detect thecycle duration assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal fromcontrol signals received from the external base station, or to detectthe cycle duration assigned to the mobile radio communication terminalinternally.

A mobile radio communication terminal for the second application contexthas a receiver unit and a transmitter unit. The terminal control unit isconfigured here

-   -   to regularly and repeatedly transmit a respective current        channel quality indicator detected using the receiver unit to an        external base station, wherein the channel quality indicator is        a criterion for a signal-to-noise ratio or for a        signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio of a channel on which        the mobile radio communication terminal receives radio signals        directed at the mobile radio communication terminal from the        external base station, and    -   to perform the transmissions with a time interval which is        individually assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal        and which depends on the device parameter value which indicates        whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently        stationary or not permanently stationary.

In one embodiment of the third application context described above, theterminal control unit is configured

-   -   to detect the device parameter value indicating whether the        mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or        not permanently stationary;    -   to switch the mobile radio communication terminal from an active        state to an inactive state;    -   to periodically execute a cell selection or cell reselection        process of the mobile radio communication device, but only if        the device parameter value indicates that the mobile radio        communication device is not permanently stationary, and if the        mobile radio communication device is in the inactive state,        wherein one of a plurality of receivable base stations is        selected for communication with the mobile radio communication        device after the mobile radio communication device has        transitioned to an active state;    -   to not execute the cell selection or cell reselection process        while the mobile radio communication terminal is in the inactive        state, but only if the device parameter value indicates that the        mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary,        and if the mobile radio communication terminal is in the        inactive state.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an operatingmethod for a base station is specified. The operating method comprisesthe steps of receiving from a mobile radio communication terminal adevice parameter value which is assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal having a communication link to the base station,and which forms the exactly one of two possible device parameter valueswhich indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary, and assigning tothe mobile radio communication terminal at least one parameter value forperforming at least one step of the method for operating the mobileradio communication terminal according to the received device parametervalue.

The advantages of the operating method for a base station correspond tothe advantages of the method of operating a mobile radio communicationterminal.

The instructions needed to execute and/or parameterize the advantageousoperating method or its application to operate the base station or theterminal can be initiated or realized by the mobile radio communicationsinfrastructure and/or its operating method. One advantageous variantcould consist in distinguishing, in the mobile radio communicationsinfrastructure and/or its operating method, whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary.

In one embodiment in the first application context of the invention, theoperating method for the base station comprises the following steps:

-   -   assigning a cycle duration to the mobile radio communication        terminal for periodic checking by the mobile radio communication        terminal, during interruptions for that purpose in an inactive        state of the mobile radio communication terminal, whether        signals directed at the mobile radio communication terminal are        being received,    -   wherein the cycle duration is assigned according to the device        parameter value which is assigned to the mobile radio        communication terminal and which indicates whether the mobile        radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or not        permanently stationary.

In the second application context, an embodiment of the operating methodfor a base station comprises the steps of:

-   -   regularly repeated reception of a respective current channel        quality indicator transmitted from the mobile radio        communication terminal, wherein the channel quality indicator is        a criterion for a signal-to-noise ratio or for a        signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio of a channel on which        the mobile radio communication terminal receives radio signals        directed at the mobile radio communication terminal from the        base station, and    -   individual assignment of a time interval between transmissions        to the mobile radio communication terminal, said time interval        being dependent on the device parameter value which indicates        whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently        stationary or not permanently stationary.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a base station isspecified. A base station according to the invention is configured toexecute the operating method of the third aspect of the invention or ofone of its embodiments.

The advantages of the base station according to the invention correspondto those of the other aspects of the invention described in theforegoing.

In various embodiments, the base station comprises

-   -   a receiver unit which is configured to receive from a mobile        radio communication terminal a device parameter value which is        assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal having a        communication link to the base station, and which forms the        exactly one of two possible device parameter values which        indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal is        permanently stationary or not permanently stationary;    -   a transmitter unit;    -   a base station control unit which is connected to the        transmitter unit and is configured to transmit at least one        parameter value to the mobile radio communication terminal        having a communication link to the base station, wherein    -   the parameter value influences the execution of at least one        step of a method for operating the mobile radio communication        terminal, and wherein    -   the parameter value is dependent on the device parameter value        which is assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and        which indicates whether the mobile radio communication terminal        is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

In one embodiment, the base station can receive the device parametervalue from the mobile radio communication terminal, determine theassociated cycle duration value on the basis of the received value andassign that cycle duration value to the mobile radio communicationterminal.

In other embodiment, the determination and assignment of the cycleduration is additionally dependent on at least one current value of astate parameter which indicates the current state of the mobile radiocommunication terminal.

In a further embodiment, mobile radio communication terminals having thedevice parameter “fixed” are paged by paging signals that are repeatedlytransmitted within a specific time period. This can prevent such amobile radio communication terminal missing a paging signal that istransmitted during an inactivity period of the mobile radiocommunication terminal that is extended with respect to the standardapplying hitherto.

Additional embodiments of the base station derive from the additionalfeatures of the embodiments of the other aspects of the invention.

Finally, the invention relates to a computer program containingexecutable program code which is adapted, once installed in a programmemory of a programmable processor of a mobile radio communicationterminal, to make said mobile radio communication terminal execute aprogram which carries out an operating method according to the firstaspect of the invention or to one of the embodiments described herein.

Another computer program product according to the invention containsexecutable program code which is adapted, once installed in a programmemory of a programmable processor of a base station of a cellularwireless communications network, to make the base station execute aprogram which carries out an operating method according to the thirdaspect of the invention or to one of the embodiments described herein.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an operating method for acore network node of a mobile communications network. The core networknode controls the operation of a base station. The method comprises:

-   -   receiving a device parameter value which is assigned to a mobile        radio communication terminal assigned to the core network node,        and which forms the exactly one of two possible device parameter        values which indicate whether the mobile radio communication        terminal is permanently stationary or not permanently        stationary,    -   assigning at least one parameter value to a base station having        a communication link to the mobile radio communication terminal,        for transmission of at least one operating parameter to the        mobile radio communication terminal having a communication link        to the base station, for executing at least one step of the        method for operating the mobile radio communication terminal        according to the device parameter which is assigned to the        mobile radio communication terminal and which indicates whether        the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently        stationary or not permanently stationary.

In one embodiment, the operating method comprises:

-   -   transmitting a cycle duration to a base station for assignment        of the cycle duration to a mobile radio communication terminal        connected to the base station, for periodic checking by the        mobile radio communication terminal, during interruptions for        that purpose in an inactive state of the mobile radio        communication terminal, whether signals directed at the mobile        radio communication terminal are being received,    -   wherein the cycle duration is detected by the core network node        according to the device parameter value which is assigned to the        mobile radio communication terminal and which indicates to the        base station whether the mobile radio communication terminal is        permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, further embodiments of the invention are explainedwith reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified flow diagram of a first embodiment of a methodaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified flow diagram of an embodiment of a method ofoperating a mobile radio communication terminal, wherein checks areperformed in periodically repeated interruptions of an inactive state todetermine whether there are any signals from an external base station;

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the method in FIG. 2, wherein the cycleduration of the checks is made additionally dependent on a stateparameter value;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic view of the power consumption of a mobileradio communication terminal as a function of time in a predominantlyinactive state, over the cycle duration of several or one DRX cycle.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of operating amobile radio communication terminal, wherein a channel quality indicatoris transmitted by the mobile radio communication terminal to an assignedexternal base station.

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of operating amobile radio communication terminal, wherein execution of a cellselection or cell reselection process by the mobile radio communicationterminal is made dependent on whether the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a simplified flow diagram of a first embodiment of a methodaccording to the invention for operating a mobile radio communicationterminal. The flow diagram in FIG. 1 is greatly simplified and showscommon elements of different embodiments of a method of operating amobile radio communication terminal. Execution of the method before andafter these elements is not shown in any further detail, therefore, andis represented by vertically arranged dots. In the embodiment in FIG. 1,it is detected in a step 102 whether the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary or not. To that end, a respectivedevice parameter the value of which is individually assigned to therespective mobile radio communication terminal is checked by the mobileradio communication terminal. The range of values of the deviceparameter describes exactly two device classes that have not beendefined in any further detail in the prior art, namely “permanentlystationary” and “not permanently stationary”. This is a device class formobile communication terminals. The meaning of the parameter values mayalso be described in that sense by the shorter expressions “fixed” and“mobile”. The “device class” parameter may be stored in the form of adevice class bit, wherein an agreement must be reached on which of thetwo possible bit values shall denote “fixed” and which shall denote“mobile”.

The subdivision into further classes, such as temporarily permanentlystationary, may be seen as a further variant of the individualembodiments, whereby manageability, practicability and profitabilitymust be considered separately for each variant. This variant issuitable, more specifically, for applications that noticeably changetheir operating state, which is to be considered after a certain periodas momentarily stationary.

Alternatively, information regarding membership of either of thefixed/mobile device classes may also be stored in a device parameterwhich is already known and assigned to a mobile radio communicationterminal, by extending the value range of that parameter. For the sakeof simplicity, however, it is still assumed for the purpose of furtherdescription that an internal device parameter is used.

After detecting the value of the device parameter in step 102, themethod branches either to step 104 or to step 106, depending on which ofthe two values the respective mobile radio communication terminal hasbeen assigned.

The method in FIG. 1 for operating a mobile radio communication terminalcan thus be summarized as follows:

Step Brief description 102 Device class fixed/mobile? 104 Execution ofthe method for “mobile” 106 Execution of the method for “fixed”

In the following, parallel reference is made to FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2 shows, as a further embodiment of a method of operating a mobileradio communication terminal in the first application context mentionedabove, a method of controlling a cycle duration which is dependent onthe device parameter. In this control method, a check is performedduring an interruption in an inactive state of the mobile radiocommunication terminal whether signals directed at the mobile radiocommunication terminal are being received from an external base station.FIG. 3 shows a variant of the method shown in FIG. 2. FIGS. 4 and 5 showin schematic form the power consumption of a mobile radio communicationterminal in a predominantly inactive state as a function of time, acrossthe cycle duration of several DRX cycles (FIG. 4) or an extended DRXcycle (FIG. 5).

In the GSM standard, an inactive state is referred to as “IDLE”. Thecycle duration for checking whether a paging signal directed at a mobileradio communication terminal is present or not is referred to as the DRXcycle duration. It is known that, in the GSM standard, different cycledurations may be used for this check in the IDLE state. In the UMTSstandard, the situation is similar to that in the GSM standard. Here,too, it is possible for different DRX cycle durations to be specified.In both standards, however, only exactly one value for the DRX cycle mayapply to all mobile radio communication terminals in a respective cellat a given time.

The assigned value of the DRX cycle duration depends on foreseeablescenarios that are likely to occur within a cell or within a larger areacomprising a plurality of cells. According to chapter 4 of the technicalspecification in 3GPP TS 25.133, for example, the DRX cycle length ischosen according to whether a mobile radio communication terminal in aspecific needs a quick cell change or a slow cell change. Such scenariosarise because of the size of the size of the cell and the typically fastor slow movement of mobile radio communication terminals in that cell.

In an urban environment, for example, consideration is also given towhether mobile radio communication terminals have to be able to changecell quickly, for example when a user moves from an cell above groundinto a cell below ground when switching to the subway train. Theaforementioned technical specification also takes upper limits for theDRX cycle duration into account, in order to permit optimal settings forthe access wireless network and its operating power, and to prevent anyloss of synchronization between the UE and the network. To guarantee themobility of all subscribers, the “worst case” is often assumed. Thismeans that the mobile radio communication terminal with the greatestspeed moving through the smallest overlap between two base stations istaken as the criterion for selecting the DRX cycle duration. An overlapin this context is to be understood as that part of a mobile networkcell in which the cell coverage overlaps the neighboring cell, that isto say, in which both the currently assigned (“serving”) cell and alsoits neighboring cell can be received by the mobile radio communicationterminal for measurement and comparison.

Such a cell-wide assignment of the DRX cycle duration harborsdisadvantages for those mobile radio communication terminals in the cellthat are permanently stationary on account of their function. Thisincludes, for example, vending machines having a network link which isrealized via mobile radio communication. According to the currentlyknown prior art, such permanently stationary devices must check duringtheir inactive state, with the same DRX cycle duration as a fast-movingmobile radio communication terminal, whether they are being paged ornot. Not only is it checked whether there are any messages for themobile communications device, but the frequency with which measurementsof the neighboring cell are to be carried out to support mobility alsodepends on the DRX cycle. This leads to the disadvantage that apermanently stationary mobile radio communication terminal in the IDLEstate must check unnecessarily often whether there are any signals beingdirected at the mobile radio communication terminal, and carry outmeasurements of the neighboring cell, and therefore has an unnecessarilyhigh level of power consumption. This is explained below with referenceto FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the diagram shown in FIG. 4, a double-headed arrow with the referencesign DRX indicates the cycle duration of a DRX cycle for a prior artmobile radio communication terminal. The situation shown in this Figurecorresponds to an example of the power consumption of a mobile radiocommunication terminal according to the present invention which isassigned the device parameter “mobile”. The power consumption cyclecontains periodically recurrent activity phases 402, in which the checkis carried out to determine whether a paging signal is being directed atthe mobile radio communication terminal, and one or more measurementsare carried out optionally (i.e., if required). Since the mobile radiocommunication terminal is basically in an inactive state (“IDLE”), themobile radio communication terminal falls back to the inactive stateafter the interruption of the inactive state by the activity phase,i.e., into another inactivity phase 403, when no paging signal wasdetected during the activity phase.

Assuming -purely for sample calculation purposes -that the powerconsumption is 2 mW during inactivity phases 404 and that the powerconsumption is 4 mW during the activity phases 402, and that theinactivity phase has a duration of 0.5 s, whereas the activity phase hasa duration of 0.1 s, then the resultant energy requirement is 3×4 mW×0.1s+3×2 mW×0.5 s=4.2 mJ. The reduction in power consumption that isactually achieved is significantly greater than in this samplecalculation.

By way of comparison, FIG. 5 shows a DRX cycle according to theoperating method of the invention for a mobile radio communicationterminal classified as “fixed”. During the period which corresponds inthe case of FIG. 4 to three DRX cycle durations, only one single DRXcycle is performed in the present embodiment according to FIG. 5. Inthis case, the energy requirement over the same period as in FIG. 4 is 4mJ, if one assumes for sample calculation purposes that the activityphase 502 is likewise 0.1 s in duration and requires a power consumptionof 4 mW, and that the power consumption during the inactivity phase is 2mW.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, leaving out two activity phases 402results in the extended DRX cycle duration DRX' compared with the schemein FIG. 4. The extended DRX cycle duration for fixed mobile radiocommunication terminals may alternatively amount to a multiple of a DRXcycle duration specified for mobile communications devices that areindeed mobile. Alternatively, a fixed or variable value determined insome other way may be used for the extended DRX cycle duration.

The energy requirement of the mobile radio communication terminal overthe period shown may thus be reduced by about 5% according to thiscalculation, which is used purely as an example. In this way, it is alsopossible to extend the operating time of a permanently stationary mobileradio communication terminal powered by a battery or an accumulator.

On the network side, mobile radio communication terminals having thedevice parameter “fixed” may be paged by paging signals that arerepeatedly transmitted over a specific time period. This can preventsuch a mobile radio communication terminal from missing a paging signalfrom the assigned base station that is transmitted during an inactivityperiod of the mobile radio communication terminal. In this variant, nofurther signaling would be necessary.

FIG. 2 now shows a flow diagram relating to the detection of the DRXcycle duration by a mobile radio communication terminal. This is thus anexample of a method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal.In this method, the mobile radio communication terminal switches in astep 202 from an active to an inactive state. The method then branches,depending on whether the mobile radio communication terminal is a fixedor a mobile device. The branching point is represented in the flowdiagram in FIG. 2 by a step 204. In the event that the device parametervalue autonomously determined or detected by the mobile radiocommunication terminal indicates that it is a mobile, Le., not apermanently stationary terminal, the method branches to step 206, inwhich the inactivity period 404 which can be used for this device classis used, and hence a DRX cycle duration according to the example in FIG.4. If, in contrast, the device is a mobile radio communication terminalwhose assigned device parameter indicates that it is a permanentlystationary terminal, an inactivity period 504 according to the examplein FIG. 5 is used in step 208, and hence a longer DRX cycle durationthat is assigned to the device class “fixed”.

In both cases, the definition of the duration of the inactivity phase,not shown in any further detail in FIG. 2, may include the mobile radiocommunication terminal previously detecting the applicable duration ofthe inactivity phase for the present value of the device parameter, ordetecting the DRX cycle duration by exchanging signals with the assignedbase station. The value is alternatively stored in, and retrievablefrom, the mobile radio communication terminal itself, for example on asubscriber identity module (SIM) or in some other non-volatile memory ofthe mobile radio communication terminal. Signaling with the base stationmakes sense in both alternatives, in order to permit suitably adaptedsignaling behavior on the part of the base station, in particular apaging signal that is repeated several times.

In one simple advantageous variant, double the DRX cycle is assumed as afixed value for fixed terminal equipment, which means that a variantfree of signaling can also be generated, since paging messages arerepeated. It is also ensured that attention is given in every secondpaging period to information from the mobile radio communicationterminal.

In an extended embodiment, assignment of the mobile radio communicationterminals to even or odd paging occasions is used in addition to aspecific reference. This is derived from the information available inthe mobile radio communication network, or in its operating method, onthe respective fixed mobile radio communication terminal.

It is not necessary for the applicable value of the device parameter tobe retrieved or detected in the inactive state. Step 204 may beperformed advantageously elsewhere in the operating method, at a placethat is not described here in any further detail. For example, the valueof the device parameter can be detected when the mobile radiocommunication terminal commences operation.

The duration of the inactivity phase and hence the DRX cycle durationbefore transition to the inactive state in step 202 can then be set aswell. In that case, all that needs to be retrieved in the inactive stateis the preset applicable value of the DRX cycle duration.

In a step 210, depending on which device class is present, the deviceswitches into the short activity phase 402 or 502 following afterinactivity phase 404 or 504, in order to check whether a paging signaldirected at the mobile radio communication terminal is present. If thatis not the case, the device is switched back to the inactivity phasewith the respectively application duration. This is represented in FIG.2 by branching back to steps 206 or 208. If a paging signal is present,in contrast, the inactive state is left and in step 212 the steps knownto a person skilled in the art are initiated for establishing a mobilecommunications link to the calling terminal. A transition from theinactive state to the active state is also carried out, of course,whenever a user of the mobile radio communication terminal establishes acommunication link to another mobile radio communication terminal of itsown accord. For the sake of simplicity, this is not shown in FIG. 2.

The operating method in FIG. 2 can be summarized in the form of thefollowing table.

Step Brief description 202 Transition to an inactive state 204 Deviceclass fixed/mobile? 206 Inactivity phase in the “mobile” case 208Inactivity phase in the “fixed” case 210 Is there a paging signal? 212Switch to the active state

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the method in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, referencesigns with final two digits identical to those in FIG. 2 are used forthose steps that are also carried out in the embodiment in FIG. 2. Forexample, step 302 involving the transition to the inactive statecorresponds to step 202 in FIG. 2. Steps 304, 310, and 312 correspond tosteps 201, 210, and 212 in FIG. 2, respectively. More detailedexplanation of all the individual steps of the method is not necessarybecause reference can be made to FIG. 2. The following descriptionconcentrates on the differences between execution of the method as inthe example shown in FIG. 3 compared to that shown in FIG. 2.

In the present embodiment, a step 303 which involves detecting anadditional state parameter is additionally carried out. The stateparameter may be, for example, the current charge status of anaccumulator or a battery which supplies energy to the mobile radiocommunication terminal. If the charge status or charge level is low, itis useful that operation of the mobile radio communication terminal hasas Iowan energy requirement as possible. In that case, the DRX cycleduration can therefore be modified in additional to the adjustmentaccording to whether the device parameter is mobile or fixed. Forexample, the DRX cycle duration may be extended even further for fixedmobile radio communication terminals. For mobile radio communicationterminals that are not permanently stationary, a higher value for theDRX cycle duration can be set in order to reduce the energy requirement,although said value is typically smaller than for a permanentlystationary device. The current value of the state parameter detected instep 303 is taken into consideration in steps 306 and 308 when theduration of the respective inactivity phase is set.

Another item of information used to determine the state parameter can bethe momentary state of some other device connected to the mobile radiocommunication terminal. A mobile communications module (as a mobileradio communication terminal), connected to a vehicle (as the otherdevice), may be considered in the state “vehicle off” to be momentarilystationary. This is advantageous, in particular, in vehicles that areparked for a long period, in which the mobile radio system for operationin an anti-theft system cannot switch to the “off” state.

In one variant of the method in FIG. 3, taking the state parameter intoconsideration when setting the DRX cycle duration can be madeadditionally dependent on confirmation by the assigned base station. Forexample, the base station may prohibit any additional extension of theDRX cycle duration when the charge level of the battery is low, so asnot to impair the network functionality.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of operating amobile radio communication terminal in the aforementioned secondapplication context, in which a channel quality indicator is transmittedby the mobile radio communication terminal to an assigned external basestation.

The second application context relates to a methods for downlink datatransmission, i.e., in the direction from a base station to a mobileradio communication terminal. In this case, the mobile radiocommunication terminal transmits a channel quality indicator to the basestation at defined time intervals. The base station decides on the basisof this information and the number of mobile radio communicationterminals currently connected to the base station which mobile radiocommunication terminal is assigned which channel for downlink datatransmission.

The received channel quality indicators are also used in the basestation to determine the output power of the base station. Thisprocedure is applied, for example, in the known, standardized datatransmission method called HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access)within UMTS, the mobile radio communication standard. The channelrequired in this transmission method for transmitting payload at higherdata rates to the mobile radio communication terminal is called theHS-DSCH (High Speed Downlink Shared Channel). Data transmission isperformed at predefined intervals referred to as TTI (transmission timeinterval). However, the data throughput does not increase proportionallyto the number of channels being used, because interference among thechannels increases the more channels are added. The channel qualitydeteriorates as a consequence.

The base station also takes account of the mobility of the mobile radiocommunication terminal when calculating the TTI time interval. It isknown to transmit the channel quality indicator CQI on a control channelto the base station at predefined time intervals, or “CQI feedbackcycles”. The control channel is referred to as HS-DPCCH (High SpeedDownlink Packet Control Channel). These time intervals correspond tocycle durations that are specified to the mobile radio communicationsdevice by the base station and, as described above, are dependent on thecurrent mobility of a respective mobile radio communication terminal andthe current intensity with which the mobile network cell is being used.

Like the previous embodiments, the method is part of a method ofoperating a mobile radio communication terminal. Preceding steps andsubsequent steps of the method are not shown for the sake of simplicity.

The part of the method which is relevant here begins, in a step 602,with transmission from the mobile radio communication terminal to itscurrently assigned base station of the device parameter value indicatingwhether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanentlystationary or not permanently stationary. In a step 604 which thenfollows, the mobile radio communication terminal receives from therespective base station a value for a time interval with which themobile radio communication terminal is to transmit a respective currentchannel quality indicator to the base station when data are subsequentlyto be transmitted. As described above, the method is used, for example,in connection with HSDPA data transmission from the base station to themobile radio communication terminal.

Steps 602 and 604 may be carried out at any time before datatransmission begins. It is possible, but not imperative, to carry themout immediately before data transmission begins. Alternatively, thesesteps can also be carried out when the mobile radio communicationterminal logs into the base station.

When data transmission begins, a loop formed by steps 606 to 610,described below, is started. Data are firstly received and, parallelthereto, a current value of the channel quality indicator CQI isdetected. Execution of step 606 is known per se to a person skilled inthe art. Compared to conventional methods, however, the presentembodiment of a method of operating a mobile radio communicationterminal differs in that the channel quality indicator is transmittedafter the predefined time interval that varies here for permanentlystationary mobile radio communication terminals from the value for notpermanently stationary mobile radio communication terminals. The timeinterval for permanently stationary mobile radio communication terminalsis longer than for not permanently stationary mobile radio communicationterminals.

Together with the channel quality indicator CQI, a positive or negativeacknowledgement signal ACK or NACK is sent in step 608 to the basestation, thus indicating whether the data received in the meantime hasbeen completely and correctly received. In the UMTS standard describedin the foregoing, the channel quality indicator (CQI) is transmitted ina frame on the HS-DPCCH. This frame also contains the positive (ACK) ornegative acknowledgement signal (NACK) signifying that data packets havebeen received at the mobile radio communication terminal correctly orwith errors. By omitting transmission of a channel quality indicator,the frame in the UMTS standard is reduced in size by two thirds. If nodata is currently being transmitted, this frame may even be left outentirely.

In a following step 610, a check is performed to determine whether anyfurther data are ready to be received. If that is the case, the methodbranches back to step 606. If it is not the case, the operating methodis continued with other steps that do not need to be described here inany further detail. Execution of the present embodiment can besummarized in the form of the following table:

Step Brief description 602 Transmission of the “mobile/fixed” deviceparameter 604 Receiving the time intervals for transmission of the CQIby the base station 606 Receiving data via HSDPA 608 Transmission of theCQI after the predefined time interval 610 Checking for presence offurther data

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of operating amobile radio communication terminal in the third application contextmentioned in the foregoing, wherein execution of a cell selection orcell reselection process by the mobile radio communication terminal ismade dependent on whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary.

In a step 702, the device parameter “mobile/fixed” is detectedautonomously in the mobile radio communication terminal and sent to anassigned base station. Step 702 can be carried out at any time beforestep 704, described below. For example, the respective signaling withthe base station may be carried out when the mobile radio communicationterminal logs into the base station. At some later time, the mobileradio communication terminal switches from an active to an inactivestate (in step 704). This state is the known IDLE state, for example. Inthe inactive state, execution of the method branches according towhether the device parameter value is “mobile” or “fixed”. If the mobileradio communication terminal is a device which is not permanentlystationary, a cell reselection process as known from the prior art isstarted in a step 708. However, if the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary, step 708 is not performed. Cellreselection is thus omitted at this stage. In both alternatives, a checkis performed in step 710 to determine whether there is any cause toswitch back into the active state. If that is the case, the terminal isactivated in step 712. If it is not the case, the method branches backto step 706. This means that a mobile radio communication terminalclassified as not permanently stationary will subsequently restart thecell reselection process in accordance with the relevant stipulations,whereas a permanently stationary mobile radio communication terminalwill again omit this step. In the case of a permanently stationarydevice, cell reselection is carried out only when the currently selectedcell no longer fulfills the predefined criteria for a suitable cell,that is to say, no longer provides the possibility of starting a mobileradio link.

The method can be summarized in the form of a table as follows:

Step Brief description 702 Detecting the mobile/fixed device parameter,transmission to the base station 704 Transition to the inactive state706 Branching, depending on whether device parameter is fixed or mobile708 Only in the “mobile” case: cell reselection process 710 Checkingwhether cause to switch to active state 712 Transition to active state

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a mobile radiocommunication terminal, configured to receive signals directed at themobile radio communication terminal from an external base station, inwhich execution of at least one step of the method is controlledaccording to a device parameter which is assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal and which has exactly one of two possible deviceparameter values which indicate whether the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary,comprising the steps of: autonomously determining the device parametervalue by the mobile radio communication terminal by conducting one ormore measurements of a variable whose values indicate individually orcollectively whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary; determining thedevice parameter value according to the value of the variable; andoperating the mobile radio communication terminal in at least one of aplurality of application contexts considering said device parameter,wherein a second application context out of said plurality ofapplication contexts includes regularly repeated transmission of arespective current channel quality indicator from the mobile radiocommunication terminal to the external base station, the channel qualityindicator being a criterion for a signal-to-noise ratio or for asignal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio of a channel on which the mobileradio communication terminal receives radio signals directed at themobile radio communication terminal from the external base station, andwherein the regularly repeated transmissions are performed with a timeinterval that is individually assigned to the mobile radio communicationterminal and which depends on the device parameter value that indicateswhether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanentlystationary or not permanently stationary.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, in which the mobile radio communication terminal transmits thedevice parameter value to the external base station based on the mobileradio communication terminal logging into the external base station. 3.The method according to claim 2, wherein a first application context outof said plurality of application contexts comprises: periodicallyinterrupting an inactive state of the mobile radio communicationterminal in order to check whether signals directed at the mobile radiocommunication terminal are being received from the external basestation, wherein the check is carried out at intervals of a cycleduration which is assigned individually to the mobile radiocommunication terminal, wherein the cycle duration depends additionallyon at least one current value of a state parameter which indicates acurrent state of the mobile radio communication terminal, whereby thecycle duration assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal has afirst cycle duration value when the device parameter value assigned tothe mobile radio communication terminal device indicates that the mobileradio communication terminal is permanently stationary, and the cycleduration otherwise has a second cycle duration value that is smaller incomparison to the first cycle duration value.
 4. The method according toclaim 2, wherein a third application context out of said plurality ofapplication contexts comprises upon detecting the device parameter valueindicating whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary, changing from anactive state to an inactive state; periodically executing a cellselection or cell reselection process of the mobile radio communicationdevice, wherein one of a plurality of receivable base stations isselected for communication with the mobile radio communication deviceafter the mobile radio communication device has transitioned to anactive state, but only if the device parameter value indicates that themobile radio communication device is not permanently stationary, and ifthe mobile radio communication device is in the inactive state; and notexecuting the cell selection or cell reselection process while themobile radio communication terminal is in the inactive state, but onlyif the device parameter value indicates that the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary, and if the mobileradio communication terminal is in the inactive state.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the autonomous determination of the deviceparameter value is carried out upon at least one of: each start up ofthe mobile radio communication terminal, and logging in to a mobilenetwork cell.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the autonomousdetermination of the device parameter is only carried out if a certaintime has elapsed since a last determination.
 7. The method according toclaim 5, wherein a first application context out of said plurality ofapplication contexts comprises: periodically interrupting an inactivestate of the mobile radio communication terminal in order to checkwhether signals directed at the mobile radio communication terminal arebeing received from the external base station, wherein the check iscarried out at intervals of a cycle duration which is assignedindividually to the mobile radio communication terminal, wherein thecycle duration depends additionally on at least one current value of astate parameter which indicates a current state of the mobile radiocommunication terminal, whereby the cycle duration assigned to themobile radio communication terminal has a first cycle duration valuewhen the device parameter value assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal device indicates that the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary, and the cycle durationotherwise has a second cycle duration value that is smaller incomparison to the first cycle duration value.
 8. The method according toclaim 5, wherein a third application context out of said plurality ofapplication contexts comprises upon detecting the device parameter valueindicating whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary, changing from anactive state to an inactive state; periodically executing a cellselection or cell reselection process of the mobile radio communicationdevice, wherein one of a plurality of receivable base stations isselected for communication with the mobile radio communication deviceafter the mobile radio communication device has transitioned to anactive state, but only if the device parameter value indicates that themobile radio communication device is not permanently stationary, and ifthe mobile radio communication device is in the inactive state; and notexecuting the cell selection or cell reselection process while themobile radio communication terminal is in the inactive state, but onlyif the device parameter value indicates that the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary, and if the mobileradio communication terminal is in the inactive state.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a first application context out of saidplurality of application contexts comprises: periodically interruptingan inactive state of the mobile radio communication terminal in order tocheck whether signals directed at the mobile radio communicationterminal are being received from the external base station, wherein thecheck is carried out at intervals of a cycle duration which is assignedindividually to the mobile radio communication terminal, wherein thecycle duration depends additionally on at least one current value of astate parameter which indicates a current state of the mobile radiocommunication terminal, whereby the cycle duration assigned to themobile radio communication terminal has a first cycle duration valuewhen the device parameter value assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal device indicates that the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary, and the cycle durationotherwise has a second cycle duration value that is smaller incomparison to the first cycle duration value.
 10. The method accordingto claim 9, wherein the cycle duration is selected from a number of morethan two cycle duration values according to a combination of the deviceparameter value and the current value of the state parameter, and thedevice parameter and the state parameter are subject to prioritizationof such a kind that the one of the two parameters whose detected currentvalue is assigned a longer cycle duration is weighted more heavilyrelative to other parameters when the cycle duration is being assigned.11. The method according to claim 9, in which the mobile radiocommunication terminal receives its assigned cycle duration from theexternal base station.
 12. The method according to claim 1, in which thetime interval between successive transmissions that is assigned to themobile radio communication terminal is either received from the externalbase station assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal ordetected internally by the mobile radio communication terminal.
 13. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein a third application context out ofsaid plurality of application contexts comprises upon detecting thedevice parameter value indicating whether the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary,changing from an active state to an inactive state; periodicallyexecuting a cell selection or cell reselection process of the mobileradio communication device, wherein one of a plurality of receivablebase stations is selected for communication with the mobile radiocommunication device after the mobile radio communication device hastransitioned to an active state, but only if the device parameter valueindicates that the mobile radio communication device is not permanentlystationary, and if the mobile radio communication device is in theinactive state; and not executing the cell selection or cell reselectionprocess while the mobile radio communication terminal is in the inactivestate, but only if the device parameter value indicates that the mobileradio communication terminal is permanently stationary, and if themobile radio communication terminal is in the inactive state.
 14. Amobile radio communication terminal, configured to receive signalsdirected at the mobile radio communication terminal from an externalbase station, the mobile radio communication terminal comprising: aterminal control unit which is configured to control execution of atleast one operating step during operation of the mobile radiocommunication terminal according to a device parameter which is assignedto the mobile radio communication terminal and which has exactly one oftwo possible device parameter values which indicate whether the mobileradio communication terminal is permanently stationary or notpermanently stationary; and a receiver unit in which the terminalcontrol unit is configured to determine or detect the device parametervalue autonomously, wherein to perform said determination or detection,said terminal control unit is configured to conduct one or moremeasurements of a variable whose value or values indicate individuallyor collectively whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary and configured todetermine the device parameter value according to the value or values ofthe variable, and the terminal control unit is further configured toassign at least one application context of operating the mobile radiocommunication terminal based on said device parameter, wherein said atleast one application context configures the terminal control unit tocarry out regularly repeated transmission of a respective currentchannel quality indicator from the mobile radio communication terminalto the external base station, wherein the current channel qualityindicator is a criterion for a signal-to-noise ratio or for asignal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio of a channel on which the mobileradio communication terminal receives radio signals directed at themobile radio communication terminal from the external base station, andwherein the regularly repeated transmissions are performed with a timeinterval that is individually assigned to the mobile radio communicationterminal and which depends on the device parameter value that indicateswhether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanentlystationary or not permanently stationary.
 15. The mobile radiocommunication terminal according to claim 14, wherein said at least oneapplication context comprises that the terminal control unit isconfigured to switch the receiver unit periodically with a predeterminedcycle duration from an inactive operating state of the mobile radiocommunication terminal to an active operating state; the receiver unitis configured to check, when in the active operating state, whethersignals directed at the mobile radio communication terminal are beingreceived; and the terminal control unit is configured: when in theinactive operating state, to activate the receiver unit with a cycleduration which is individually assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal and which depends on the device parameter valuewhich indicates whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary; to regularly andrepeatedly transmit a respective current channel quality indicatordetected using the receiver unit to the external base station, whereinthe channel quality indicator is a criterion for a signal-to-noise ratioor for a signal-to-noise- plus-interference ratio of a channel on whichthe mobile radio communication terminal receives radio signals directedat the mobile radio communication terminal from the external basestation; and to perform the transmissions with a time interval which isindividually assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal andwhich depends on the device parameter value which indicates whether themobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or notpermanently stationary.
 16. The mobile radio communication terminalaccording to claim 14, wherein said application context comprises thatthe terminal control unit is configured: to detect the device parametervalue indicating whether the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary or not permanently stationary; to switch themobile radio communication terminal from an active state to an inactivestate; to periodically execute a cell selection or cell reselectionprocess of the mobile radio communication device, but only if the deviceparameter value indicates that the mobile radio communication device isnot permanently stationary, and if the mobile radio communication deviceis in the inactive state, wherein one of a plurality of receivable basestations is selected for communication with the mobile radiocommunication device after the mobile radio communication device hastransitioned to an active state; and to not execute the cell selectionor cell reselection process while the mobile radio communicationterminal is in the inactive state, but only if the device parametervalue indicates that the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary, and if the mobile radio communication terminalis in the inactive state.
 17. A method to operate a mobile radiocommunication terminal in which execution of at least one act of themethod is controlled according to a device parameter that assigned tothe mobile radio communication terminal and which has exactly one of twopossible device parameter values that indicate whether the mobile radiocommunication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanentlystationary, comprising: autonomously determining the device parametervalue by the mobile radio communication terminal by conducting one ormore measurements of a variable whose value or values indicateindividually or collectively whether the mobile radio communicationterminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary;determining the device parameter value according to the value or valuesof the variable; operating the mobile radio communication terminal in anapplication context that includes periodically interrupting an inactivestate of the mobile radio communication terminal in order to checkwhether signals directed at the mobile radio communication terminal arebeing received from an external base station, wherein the check iscarried out at intervals of a cycle duration assigned individually tothe mobile radio communication terminal, wherein the cycle durationdepends additionally on at least one current value of a state parameterthat indicates a current state of the mobile radio communicationterminal, and whereby the cycle duration assigned to the mobile radiocommunication terminal has a first cycle duration value when the deviceparameter value assigned to the mobile radio communication terminaldevice indicates that the mobile radio communication terminal ispermanently stationary, and the cycle duration otherwise has a secondcycle duration value that is smaller in comparison to the first cycleduration value.